>> no i haven't. >> president chiu: my apologies. >> anyway, i apologize for stepping into a comment in which i thought it was okay per the agenda, okay, so i can comment on any which thing that's brought up before the board. but we're just here to speak on the issue of the sf mta. and the issues surrounding the sf mta, the budget, how everything's going over there. now, one can say that prop g changed muni, depending on whose glasses you're using. proposition a, you know, we just want to make sure that you, the board members, particularly the new board members when they do come in, really step up to the plate, and have the agency conduct business for the residents of this city like they're supposed to be. no one's paying attention to prop a, transit first. no one. so when we take that into

context, this system should be really -- yeah. mr. elsbernd brung up prop g but did it affect anything? i don't know. we have to look at those numbers today because in two weeks they're talking about cutting service to your constituents in the outer neighborhoods. yet take care of the visitors that's coming to shop in union square but what about the individuals in the outer neighborhoods. service is going to be affected deeply with these cuts. so we just ask for you and we are trying to work with the agency as a partnership, what we're asking for the support of the board as well. let's really identify the serious problems of the agency, and the bureaucratic -- the misspending of all the funds that they have. can we do that. and we're willing to work with each and every one of you as -- >> president chiu: thank you. next speaker.

>> like alfred hitchcock said, good evening. first i would like to thank supervisor olague, in my opinion her crowning achievement is that she set an example for all the school kids in san francisco. don't tolerate bullying, even in the city and county of san francisco, ie the mayor's office doing all the bullying. the kids will remember her, that's how she will go down in her crowning achievement in my humble opinion. ide like to make it a matter of record in my opinion this board of supervisors has neglected three obvious items i've mentioned in the past. we'll see what happens next year. number one, child pornography. number two, the sex slave trade passing through san francisco. and obviously, number three, my number one project, the controversial death of a dead gay man who used to work at san francisco general in 1999,

and so far nobody, and i mean nobody, is willing to even discuss his death. i guess when you're gay and you have no voice, then you're expendable. it's kind of interesting that the city of san francisco has been bypassed by the state of washington in regards to gay and related activities. so maybe that's a sign to san francisco that maybe the curse of joe -- is beginning to take its toll. the last thing i would like to say is that there was an article in the west portal monthly in the front page and there were two things that weren't mentioned. the first one was that room 200 was very well represented. that wasn't mentioned. and in my opinion, the other thing that wasn't mentioned was laguna honda hospital.

thank you. >> mr. president, supervisors, my name's otto duffy, north of market activist. i just saw the film lincoln and i'm just struck by a number of parallels with this body. but it occurred to me that you folks are probably pretty busy people appear you might not have had a chance to see it so i don't want as to destroy the ending. i also want to thank our outgoing members here very much. i would just say that, in one case, there's a person who has very much on the other side of the political spectrum, and i think in all of eight years there was maybe one time we were on the same side but i really appreciated that time. so thank you. >> president chiu: thank you. and i want to welcome back former supervisor willie kenne kennedy. >> good evening. members of the board of

supervisors, it's a pleasure to visit you today. but i came actually to hear, on behalf of the successor agency commission that was before you today. i didn't realize it had already been done. but nevertheless i enjoyed sitting through it and listening to it once again. it brought back old memories of things that occurred whoo whens here, although it may have gotten a little better, but i doubt it very much. sounds like the same old same old, that i was listening to today. but nevertheless, i know you have taken care of it very well. and i know it's always a sad moment when we must go. but the voters chose that and said that you could no longer serve but a certain period of time. but i know how you feel, to have to leave a body like this, one that you have been around for a long, long time.

and i wish all of you, who have to leave, vacate your seat, success in whatever you choose to do, and of course i admired her very much, and i thought you did an excellent job. and i hope i was not one of the ones that caused you to make that decision, after our conversation that day. but nevertheless, we both felt the same way and may god continue to bless all of you as you move about doing your duties in this community. it's not an easy job, and you're never loved at all. you may love today. tomorrow, you're hated. so whatever it may be, god bless you and merry christmas and a very happy new year. >> president chiu: thank you very much. next speaker. >> can i put this up? >> president chiu: sfgov-tv.

>> i would like everyone to google mta michael akino, if you would. you know, if he dies in about five hours and -- midnight, michael akino, and i stuck a cheeseburger in her face and said michael eat it, he wouldn't want to eat it because he's dead. in efissions chapter 2 we read before one becomes a christian they're dead in tress passing in sin. there's no way that anybody can save themselves. my text for today comes from eye say yay. this is 700 years before jesus died on the cross in order to save sinners that cannot save themselves. i gave my back to the sniders and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. i hid not my face in shame from

spitting for the lord god will help me therefore have i set my face like a flint and i know i shall not be ashamed. let us stand together. who is my adversary. let him come near unto me. fear of the lord god will -- who will condemn me. lo, they all shall wax old as a garment, isaiah chapter 50. there's a lot in that but jesus christ is actually speaking through the prophet. seven centuries before it happened, in luc, jesus said these are the words which i spoke to you while i was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of moses, and in the prophets, that would be isaiah and in psalms concerning me.

>> president chiu: thank you. are there any other members of the public that wish to speak in general public comment? please step up. next speaker. >> it's great to see you guys honoring a local business today. that made me feel good. i love this city. i became inspired to eat healthier and started my first business here. i started a dream and a vision to provide healthy food options, working endlessly to build my location. now a great deal has changed with the mobile food trucks. most existing businesses were grandfathered in. this didn't happen to me. i was sent to a nursing home put on my death bed and required to pay my funeral costs up front after two years of paying my permit and paying in excess of 2,000, dpw informed me the police department committed an error. it was in violation of the municipal police code. dpw senior managers waived the nee on a new location but

couldn't approve a refund. the claim was dean nied. michelle wu, the hearing officer, dpw, gave me the option to finish out the year at dolores park or choose a new location. many of the prime locations have been occupied over the years, and the new regulation doesn't require you to pay a $10,000 fee. do you think the city has given me back the money? and to this day, i still don't have a comparable location. mistakes happen and that's why i wasn't seeking additional damages. i just wanted the money back that i paid. i realize each of you are extremely busy. i know you have to choose which issues to get involved in. remember which issues you also ignore speak volumes of your character. i can only hope these things from a leader that you feel this is important in maintaining high ethics, that you see the importance of taking action for small businesses and that the city government wouldn't defraud me either by accident or on

purpose. i believe in our leadership and morals, i know most of the time it's a matter of speaking with the right peek. i hope you -- people. i hope you put me in the right direction. >> president chiu: thank you very much. are there other members of the public who wish to speak in general public comment? seeing none general public comment is closed. >> clerk calvillo: items 52 for adoption. if a member request -- >> president chiu: would anyone like to sever these items? seeing none, the the final vote of 2012, mr. clerk, could you please call the roll. >> supervisor farrell, aye. supervisor kim, aye. supervisor mar, absent. supervisor olague, aye. supervisor wiener, aye. supervisor avalos, aye. supervisor campos, aye. president chiu, aye.

supervisor chu, aye. supervisor cohen, aye. supervisor, aye. there are 10 ayes. >> president chiu: those resolutions are adopted and motions approved. could you read the in memoriams. >> on behalf of supervisor elsbernd for sullivan, on behalf of supervisor campos for rodriguez and on behalf of supervisor cohen for russell bradford, supervisor kim for the late thomas west brooke. >> president chiu: anymore business in front of this body? >> that concludes our business. >> president chiu: to everyone a happy holiday, happy new year. we'll see everyone back here on january 8, 2013. we are adjourned.

>> >> >> frantic shoppers around you may be in need of a break from the festivities and have no fear i will count down the places that will add fun to the madness. if you're in good of a good laugh stop by for free

comedy night and food and drink speciallies. come laugh the night away at 8:00 p.m. sharp. after that get your skate grove on in your finest black and white duds. join the godfather of skate and his party crew this thursday at the skate night. skate to the funk and rolear disco and say the words "i love skating" and get a discount at the door. maybe the star party is your cup of tea and socialize and get tips about the night sky and from san francisco's picturesque land's end and the skies the limit. that's the weekly buzz. visit us

>> welcome to the beautiful historic tea gardens, the oldest in the united states. this provides visitors from around the world to enjoy the natural beauty, harmony and tranquility of the park in the heart of golden gate park. >> as you can see the garden has a wide variety of plants here, almost a hundred species from japan and china and bamboo and

native plants. >> they're trimmed to a human scale so you relate to them on a human level. >> this is one of my favorite sections and you can see the goarnlrous maples by the bamboo back drop and especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves start changing colors. just around the corner from maple lane this little garden is called a zen garden, a dry landscape garden and constructed here in 1953. this was originally designed by zen monks for the ground. their main purpose was to create a trairchg tranquil setting for the monks. this is no ordinary bridge. it's made

of redwood, oak and cedar. the high arch style makes it easy to pass under. the newly refurbished tea house is in the center of the gard scpen a great place to eat and chill as you take in the view of the garden. if you wish you can experience the rich cultural tradition that celebrates the preparation of green tea or matcha and your host dressed in the ceremony will demonstrate how to clean the utensils and receive and drink tea with ancient japanese customs. the art of the tea ceremony once available only to priests and nobility is completely accessible to you here in the house at the

japanese tea garden. located just across from the tea garden is the awesome segue tours there are two ways to use a scooter to venture through golden gate park. tour or a rental in the company of a guard that can whiz you through the park tour and see the conservatory of flowers. >> so much fun. woo. >> segways on a echo way to see gold park. check it out and stop by after your tour of the tea garden. it's a great way to play in the park. this way you can chill in

the japanese garden go to the tea house and then segway here at golden gate park. >> my name is phil ginsburg and the general manager of the san francisco parks and rec department and i want to welcome everybody to the 83rd annual holiday tree lighting. happy holidays to you all.

this is san francisco's official holiday tree right behind us, uncle john's tree and over 100 years old, and tonight it sports over 550 christmas holiday lights. >> five, four, three, two, one! >> five, four, three, two, one! >> yay!

[train whistle blowing] global warming. [whistle blows] some say irreversible consequences are 30 years away. 30 years? that won't affect me. [brakes screech]

>> welcome to "culturewire." today we are at recology. they are celebrate 20 years of one of the most incredibly unique artist residency programs. we are here to learn more from one of the resident artists. welcome to the show, deborah. tell us how this program began 20 years ago. >> the program began 20 years ago. our founder was an environmentalist and an activist and an artist in the 1970's. she started these street

sweeping campaigns in the city. she started with kids. they had an exhibition at city hall. city officials heard about her efforts and they invited her to this facility. we thought it would coincide with our efforts to get folks to recycle, it is a great educational tool. since then, we have had 95 professional artists come through. >> how has the program changed over the years? how has the program -- what can the public has an artist engage with? >> for the most part, we worked with metal and wood, what you would expect from a program like ours. over the years, we tried to include artists and all types of mediums. conceptual artists, at installation, photographers, videographers. >> that has really expanded the program out. it is becoming so dynamic right

now with your vision of interesting artists in gauging here. why would an artist when to come here? >> mainly, access to the materials. we also give them a lot of support. when they start, it is an empty studio. they go out to the public area and -- we call it the big store. they go out shopping, take the materials that, and get to work. it is kind of like a reprieve, so they can really focus on their body of work. >> when you are talking about recology, do you have the only sculpture garden at the top? >> it is based on work that was done many years ago in new york. it is the only kind of structured, artist program. weit is beautiful. a lot of the plants you see were

pulled out of the garbage, and we use our compost to transplant them. the pathway is lined with rubble from the earthquake from the freeways we tour about 5000 people a year to our facility, adults and children. we talk about recycling and conservation. they can meet the artists. >> fantastic. let's go meet some of your current artists. here we are with lauren. can you tell us how long have been here so far and what you're working on? >> we started our residency on june 1, so we came into the studio then and spent most of the first couple weeks just digging around in the trash. i am continuing my body of work, kind of making these hand- embroidered objects from our day-to-day life. >> can you describe some of the things you have been making

here? this is amazing. >> i think i started a lot of my work about the qualities of light is in the weight. i have been thinking a lot about things floating through the air. it is also very windy down here. there is a piece of sheet music up there that i have embroidered third. there is a pamphlet about hearing dea -- nearing death. this is a dead rabbit. this is what i am working on now. this is a greeting card that i found, making it embroidered. it is for a very special friend. >> while we were looking at this, i glanced down and this is amazing, and it is on top of a book, it is ridiculous and amazing. >> i am interested in the serendipity of these still life compositions. when he got to the garbage and

to see the arrangement of objects that is completely spontaneous. it is probably one of the least thought of compositions. people are getting rid of this stuff. it holds no real value to them, because they're disposing of it. >> we're here in another recology studio with abel. what attracted you to apply for this special program? >> who would not want to come to the dump? but is the first question. for me, being in a situation that you're not comfortable in has always been the best. >> what materials were you immediately attracted to when you started and so what was available here? >> there are a lot of books. that is one of the thing that hits me the most. books are good for understanding, language, and art in general. also being a graphic designer, going straight to the magazines and seeing all this printed material being discarded has also been part of my work. of course, always wood or any

kind of plastic form or anything like that. >> job mr. some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. -- taught me through some of the pieces you have made while you have been here. >> the first thing that attracted me to this was the printed surface. it was actually a poster. it was a silk screen watercolor, about 8 feet long. in terms of the flatwork, i work with a lot of cloddish. so being able to cut into it come at into it, removed parts, it is part of the process of negotiating the final form. >> how do you jump from the two dimensional work that you create to the three-dimensional? maybe going back from the 3f to 2d. >> everything is in the process of becoming. things are never said or settled. the sculptures are being made while i am doing the collages,

and vice versa. it becomes a part of something else. there's always this figuring out of where things belong or where they could parapets something else. at the end goal is to possibly see one of these collage plans be built out and create a structure that reflects back into the flat work. >> thank you so much for allowing "culturewire" to visit this amazing facility and to learn more about the artists in residence program. is there anything you like our viewers to know? >> we have art exhibitions every four months, and a win by the public to come out. everybody is welcome to come out. we have food. sometimes we have gains and bands. it is great time. from june to september, we accept applications from bay area artists. we encouraged artists from all mediums to apply. we want as many artists from the bay area out here so they can hav